What's trending in travel for 2012

Here's a look at what's up and coming in travel for this year.

For women only: With more women traveling alone, it's not surprising that JWT reports more hotels will be adding floors for women only.

Room rates: Hotels will experience higher demand than in 2011, and rates will rise, says Clem Bason of the online ticket seller Hotwire.

Next destinations: Tour companies are selling out trips to Cuba and Myanmar. Both countries are still led by repressive regimes, but they're easier to visit this year due to political changes in Myanmar and an easing of U.S. government restrictions for Americans going to Cuba.

Agents for Plymouth-based Travel Leaders report strong interest in Croatia, Vietnam and Panama. Their top U.S. picks are Las Vegas, Orlando, Maui, Alaska (by cruise ship) and New York.

My take on where you'll find the best values in foreign travel: Eastern Europe, Turkey, Mexico, China and any of the Latin American countries.

Fares and fees: Expect higher airfares, even if fewer people are flying.

Ancillary revenue -- money from checked bag fees, sales of premium seats and the like -- nearly doubled to $12.5 billion last year among major U.S. airlines.

"I think the next move is going to be not so much in introducing new fees as in new methods for managing fees," says Jay Sorensen, CEO of IdeaWorks, an airline-consulting company. Airlines may test charging varying prices for premium seats or early boarding, depending on the length of the flight.

"Fees will rise and fall with demand," he says, and more airlines will look at selling annual subscriptions for services, similar to what United offers under its premier baggage plan.